Episode 41. Mission Resumed
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, July 25, 2024 - 01:17
- Location
-
- Space
- Earth Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
The Enterprise is escorting the Nauvoo vessels tasked with retaking control of Earth's satellites. In orbit, the USS Washington is destroyed by invisible fire: the enemy is the same extraterrestrial vessel seen over Brussels. After a grueling duel, the crew applies a tactic combining torpedoes and DXS that pierces its shield. Damaged, the enemy withdraws into Earth's atmosphere. The Enterprise then resumes its security mission.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Earth Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Infirmary | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
TL;DR
The Enterprise gets back into battle order, relaunches probes, and authorizes the Nauvoos to continue their work. Flores suffers from tinnitus after the alien contact, then returns to duty. A week passes without incident. Just as they are about to leave orbit, Flores picks up a targeted one-way signal... coming from the surface of the Moon.
Story
After the confrontation with the Aragthonian vessel and its disappearance into Earth's radioactive atmosphere, the USS Enterprise, despite a few minor damages, repositions itself and resumes its initial mission.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, redeploy surveillance probes around our area of action.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Probes deploying, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Ensign Flores, inform the fleet vessels that they may resume their tasks.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
[...]
Flores takes too long to answer.
Her fingers remain suspended above the control panel, her gaze fixed, slightly absent.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores.
Did you hear me?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Uh... yes, sorry, Captain.
What were you saying?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You do not look well.
What is happening to you, Ensign?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
I am sorry, Captain.
My ears are ringing.
I think it is related to the communication with the enemy vessel.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Go to sickbay immediately, Flores.
Number One, replace the ensign at her station.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Aye, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, give me a status report on the ship.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
No hull damage and no casualties to report, Captain.
Our systems held up.
The shields are currently at forty-one percent and recharging.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
And inside the ship?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
A few minor damages, nothing serious.
The technical teams are already putting things back in order.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Have you obtained new data on the UFO?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
No, Captain.
Nothing more than what we already know, except for its shield, now identified as vulnerable to our weapons.
As for its weapons, the energy used remains completely unknown.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Do you have an explanation for its sudden appearance?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
No, Captain.
It could be equipped with advanced cloaking technology...
Something we are not yet capable of detecting.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Savea.
Since we are here for another good week, we are going to set up watch shifts.
Mr. Corda, you may go rest.
I will replace you.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Aye, Captain.
I take my place at the pilot station.
Before me, Earth stretches out, draped in ashen clouds.
The radioactive plumes hide almost everything, but I imagine the continents below.
The cities.
The bunkers.
The lives we left behind.
I wonder how many survived.
Whether there is still a human heartbeat down there...
Or only lost echoes on the airwaves?
And above all...
How long will it take before we dare go back down?
The week passes without incident, and the UFO does not reappear.
Ensign Flores has been treated and cleared to resume her post.
The Nauvoo vessels complete the repair of NATO satellites and intercept those of foreign powers.
I am about to give the departure order to return to the starbase when, suddenly...
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Captain, I am picking up strange signals.
Interference disrupting communications and detection systems.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Origin, Flores?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Unknown, Captain.
Wait...
Not exactly.
It seems to be addressed directly to us.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What do you mean, Ensign?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
It is a targeted one-way signal.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Source?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
From the surface of the Moon, Captain.